Re: 8n will fire but not start??

Re: 8n will fire but not start??

First off this is my first tractor and the first problems I had since the purchase. I bought 2 books when I got the Tractor-I&T FO-4 Ford Shop Manual and Ford Tractor Operator's Manual. I just recently purchased-How to Restore Ford Tractors by Tharran E. Gains. I used the gap stick that came with the points set that was included in the package?? I joined this site because I wanted to talk about my tractor with other enthusiasts. I have 2 college degrees in Architectural Technology and Construction Management from East Carolina University. So Murphry 1244 don't play me like I am stupid. You do not know me or the situation, so either talk to me with some couth and quit be so obtuse. I was raise that if you cannot say anything good then don't say anything. I am parispete so remember that next time to want to sound off on my thread when seeking help. Thank you.

All I do appreciate all the information even from murphy1244 and am willing to learn and hopefully gain knowledge and friendships on this site. Now, I was thinking that I do not know how long that carb has been on that tractor so from that point of view I am thinking that I can save the 50-60 bucks and put it towards a new carburetor. Who out there know and has field tested carbs so that I can get a new one. I figure that I can get a kit down the road and try to install a kit and try that then save it or sell it used and rebuilt. What is some good carb cleaner now a days??

Re: 8n will fire but not start??

If your sure all the wires are on right and firing in proper order then I would shut the fuel off and spray carb cleaner into it to see if it
fires and runs on that. If it does, look at the carb and rebuild. If it dosen't then you heve to look at mechanical or electrical.

Re: 8n will fire but not start??

Originally Posted by parispete

First off this is my first tractor and the first problems I had since the purchase. I bought 2 books when I got the Tractor-I&T FO-4 Ford Shop Manual and Ford Tractor Operator's Manual. I just recently purchased-How to Restore Ford Tractors by Tharran E. Gains. I used the gap stick that came with the points set that was included in the package?? I joined this site because I wanted to talk about my tractor with other enthusiasts. I have 2 college degrees in Architectural Technology and Construction Management from East Carolina University. So Murphry 1244 don't play me like I am stupid. You do not know me or the situation, so either talk to me with some couth and quit be so obtuse. I was raise that if you cannot say anything good then don't say anything. I am parispete so remember that next time to want to sound off on my thread when seeking help. Thank you.

All I do appreciate all the information even from murphy1244 and am willing to learn and hopefully gain knowledge and friendships on this site. Now, I was thinking that I do not know how long that carb has been on that tractor so from that point of view I am thinking that I can save the 50-60 bucks and put it towards a new carburetor. Who out there know and has field tested carbs so that I can get a new one. I figure that I can get a kit down the road and try to install a kit and try that then save it or sell it used and rebuilt. What is some good carb cleaner now a days??

So you have two college degrees, three books on the tractor and still gap'ed the points too wide? You tell us the engine ran great before you messed with the distributor, wires, plugs and you want to rebuild the carburetor to "fix it"? I'd throttle back on the caffeine, swallow some dry crow, stow the ego and listen to the advice already given.

1) Follow Soundguy's advice. He doesn't just have more posts than you, he has more tractors too --- and by the same ratio! Re-read the book on how to remove the dist and set the points. It's not common knowledge and is easy to do wrong. Very easy. (at least for me)

2) Run your fingers from dist to plug for each one. Verify the order is correct. #1 is closest to the Rad (if memory serves). Make sure you ordered them for the rotation direction of the dist.

3) don't go borrowing trouble. If it worked before you mucked about with the dist, wires, plugs and it won't work now ---> it's because you did something wrong. Go back and verify. When you KNOW the wires are in the correct places, pull each plug one at a time and VERIFY you have a fat blue spark from each one.

I am thinking you have a weak spark from too wide of a gap, but wouldn't be shocked if your firing order is out of whack too.

Re: 8n will fire but not start??

and if it says .025 for a 48-front mount.. I'd hound the publisher to get your $$ back, OR mark in the correct info with an ink pen.

Originally Posted by parispete

I just recently purchased-How to Restore Ford Tractors by Tharran E. Gains.

? an ok book.. probably not needed. just common sense stuff anyway. on the other hand. go ahead and keep it. might actually be usefull in this case.

Originally Posted by parispete

I used the gap stick that came with the points set that was included in the package??

reguardless if they shipped a tape measure or yard stick in the breaker points carton.. it doesn't change the fact that in your application.. the breaker gap is .015

Originally Posted by parispete

I joined this site because I wanted to talk about my tractor with other enthusiasts.

probably easilly one of the 2 best places to get tractor info...

Originally Posted by parispete

I have 2 college degrees in Architectural Technology and Construction Management from East Carolina University.

good for you.. I think you will fand many of us here are degree'd up as well.. we just don't carry a banner saying so.

Originally Posted by parispete

So Murphry 1244 don't play me like I am stupid. You do not know me or the situation, so either talk to me with some couth and quit be so obtuse. I was raise that if you cannot say anything good then don't say anything. I am parispete so remember that next time to want to sound off on my thread when seeking help. Thank you.

i don't see where murph said any negative comment to you? I see where he replied to one of my comments / observations. I think I'll just bow out and let you fix your own tractor after this post after that comment to murph right there.

Originally Posted by parispete

am willing to learn and hopefully gain knowledge and friendships on this site.

epic failure based on the preceding paragraph i just replied to.

Originally Posted by parispete

Now, I was thinking that I do not know how long that carb has been on that tractor so from that point of view I am thinking that I can save the 50-60 bucks and put it towards a new carburetor. Who out there know and has field tested carbs so that I can get a new one. I figure that I can get a kit down the road and try to install a kit and try that then save it or sell it used and rebuilt.

good idea.. jump to another system and randomly start replacing parts instead of troubleshooting completely.

Re: 8n will fire but not start??

Originally Posted by parispete

First off this is my first tractor and the first problems I had since the purchase. I bought 2 books when I got the Tractor-I&T FO-4 Ford Shop Manual and Ford Tractor Operator's Manual. I just recently purchased-How to Restore Ford Tractors by Tharran E. Gains. I used the gap stick that came with the points set that was included in the package?? I joined this site because I wanted to talk about my tractor with other enthusiasts. I have 2 college degrees in Architectural Technology and Construction Management from East Carolina University. So Murphry 1244 don't play me like I am stupid. You do not know me or the situation, so either talk to me with some couth and quit be so obtuse. I was raise that if you cannot say anything good then don't say anything. I am parispete so remember that next time to want to sound off on my thread when seeking help. Thank you.

All I do appreciate all the information even from murphy1244 and am willing to learn and hopefully gain knowledge and friendships on this site. Now, I was thinking that I do not know how long that carb has been on that tractor so from that point of view I am thinking that I can save the 50-60 bucks and put it towards a new carburetor. Who out there know and has field tested carbs so that I can get a new one. I figure that I can get a kit down the road and try to install a kit and try that then save it or sell it used and rebuilt. What is some good carb cleaner now a days??

Pete, I didn't make you sound stupid. You did. Then you went one better by posting this garbage. Good day.

Re: 8n will fire but not start??

Op, in the old days, there was a tune-up procedure with an order of events to undertake based on the reliability of the various systems and the way each effects the other in tuning. Any way you slice it, ignition work gets done before carburetor work. Carb work is always last. All things should be right before one messes with the carb.

In many engines, all the other work can be done quite precisely even if the carb is off the engine. But the carb must have all things pertaining to valve timing and ignition timing right to be tuned right. Faulty ignitions screw up the running and therefore effects the vacuum, which effects the air velocity and on and on. So return to the "scene of the crime" (as I jokingly tell our mechanics) and get all that right as rain.

Which is bigger?: a) $100 per month since the Big Bang or b) the US National Debt.

Re: 8n will fire but not start??

OK, I went back to the crime scene. Starting at the the radiator on the head cover I marked the pistons 1, 2, 4, 3. I rechecked the points and they were at .016 and I adjusted. It must have been the gap on the plugs were .025 not .026. People say I am getting dyslexic??? It is simpler not taking off the metal and sliding the radiator to the side. Thanks for the info Murphy, and I guess that I just took your post the wrong way. Anyway, I re-did checking the wires. I pulled the spark plugs and I get about a 1/4 inch of spark from the spark test. They all seem to be close to the same.

I have had this tractor since 2005. It sat in a field at a tractor repair shop for a couple years I saw it every time we went to church and back home, and one day it was gone so I stopped in the new day to see what happen to it and they had brought it in and fixed it up and I bought it for $1,200.oo. I had to get new rims on the back after the first year due to rusting and I have to do the same for the front wheels now. I never keep more that a gallon or so in it and drain it in the winter to the bowl. year before last in the fall it started to stop running after and hour or so. Last year it did it again and so I would use it an hour at a time, and this fall after cleaning the garden it just shut off and I would not crank again and I ran the battery dead. I charged the battery and it started but ran sluggish and sputtered and spattered and I got it to the driveway so when I found out what was wrong I could push it into the garage.

I did not notice the leaking at the choke until it was in my garage. I cut the fuel off and put a can under it to catch the fuel. It stopped after a bit. I put on all the stuff and have checked it. The starter has a new solenoid and seems to have more power, but it still skips every now and then. It is not leaking now, but will not start. It sure sounds like it wants to take off. I checked the fuel line and it is getting fuel at least to that point.
I did not get what Soundguy was saying about the carburetor. So I need to get a kit first and try that and then a carb?

I do not have a crank and knew of them for some tractors but that is news to me. I will look online for one.

The economy has hit us all very hard. I do not have the luxury of having money I can use unwisely. I am the student here. I do appreciate everyone's kindness. If I have pissed someone off then it will not be the first time that I have done that. It usually does not last long and bygone's will be bygone's. Thanks